BALTIMORE, April 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — America’s history will come to life in Baltimore this summer with three historic commemorations marking important moments in the creation of our nation’s identity: the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and birth of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” a tribute to Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, and the continuation of the 150(th) anniversary of the Civil War.

To honor these American stories, Baltimore is offering several passes to make summer trips affordable with discounts to attractions, museums and historic sites specific to each commemoration, from the ramparts of Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine to the largest collection of Civil War locomotives at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum and the inspirational legends at the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum, just to name a few.

Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and Birth of the National Anthem

The 200(th) anniversary of the birth of our national anthem during the War of 1812 is a defining moment in the nation’s history. As dawn broke on Sept. 14, 1814, Francis Scott Key gazed through the haze at Fort McHenry after the British navy had bombarded the fort for 24 hours. When he finally saw the stars and stripes, he was inspired to write the poem that was later to become “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Visitors can use the Star-Spangled Banner Pass to explore key sites of the War of 1812 with savings of up to 15 percent off individual prices. The pass lets visitors catch a glimpse of the original version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the Maryland Historical Society; walk through the home of Mary Pickersgill, where the 15-star,15-stripe flag that flew over the fort during the Battle of Baltimore was sewn; and walk the ramparts at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine.

In 2013, the nation is commemorating the 100(th) anniversary of Harriet Tubman’s passing and her role as a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad. Born into slavery, Harriet Tubman escaped from a Maryland plantation in the mid-1800s. Over a 10-year period, she made more than a dozen daring journeys to help enslaved African Americans find freedom.

With the Legends & Legacies Heritage Pass, visitors can save 20 percent off individual ticket prices to discover the spirit of Harriet Tubman in the countless stories of African Americans who followed her path to self-determination and helped to shape the nation. Visitors can tour the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture, the largest African American museum on the East Coast; the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum, the only museum of its kind; and the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park, a national heritage site that explores the lives of Douglass, the great statesman and abolitionist, and Myers, the founder of the first African American–owned shipyard.

This year also marks the continuation of the 150(th) Anniversary of the Civil War, which left Baltimore a divided city, in a divided state, in a divided nation. The war’s first blood was shed in Baltimore, and the city was occupied by Union troops. Revisit the stories of the Civil War in Baltimore with the Civil War 150 Explorer Pass, which includes admission to four historic museums and sites — the B&O Railroad Museum, the Maryland Historical Society, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, and the USS Constellation, plus the free Civil War Museum at President Street Station, offering savings of 25 percent off individual ticket prices.

Each of the passes also includes additional discounts at museum shops and other special offerings. For more information about Baltimore’s year of historic commemorations, visit http://baltimore.org/commemorations.

Visit Baltimore — the official sales and marketing organization for Baltimore that generates economic benefits for stakeholders through the attraction of convention, group and leisure visitors. For more information, visit http://www.baltimore.org.